Sustaining the Future with Soy: A Look into Sustainable Practices
The soybean market size is estimated to reach USD 259 billion by 2030. That represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% from 2023 through 2030.
The primary driving force behind this exponential growth rate is the increased awareness of soy as a healthier replacement for animal-based protein sources. Many health-conscious individuals also gravitate towards soy for its density in other essential nutrients, such as dietary fiber and antioxidants.
But with a growing interest in soybeans, many are predicting a possible shortage of this legume at some point in the future. That explains why some industry stakeholders are now embracing sustainable soy production practices.
Below are some best practices in soy production.
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- Timely Planting
Timely planting translates to a bumper harvest. And a bumper harvest forestalls any future shortage of soybeans in the market. Therefore, one of the most effective innovative soy products production methods is to plant at the right time.
The best soybean planting season tends to be from late April to early May.
Aim to plant soy in spring since it’s a warm-weather crop. Depending on your region, the ideal planting time may simply be seasons that coincide with the onset of the rains.
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- Maintaining the Ideal Growing Conditions
Timely planning is only half the work regarding sustainable soy production. The other half entails maintaining the recommended growing conditions.
Like most legumes, U.S. Soy latest prefers well-drained (but not sandy) soils with a pH of 6.5 or slightly over. You should also aim for a relative humidity of 60% and a daytime temperature of around 70°F (21°C).
Monitor these conditions continuously while your soybeans are in their vegetative growth phase, between 90 and 110 days after sowing. Then, harvest the beans when they’re about 100 days old for dry soybeans or about 60 days old for edamame.
- Crop Rotation
As the name implies, crop rotation moves crops from different fields during planting seasons. The idea is to mitigate the nutrient burden caused by certain crops on a farm.
One significant benefit of crop production is that it reduces bioaccumulation – the process whereby soy (or any plant, for that matter) takes in more nutrients than the amount it excretes.
Bioaccumulation can affect soy yield adversely, especially if the chemicals absorbed are toxic.
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- Embracing Precision Farming
Precision farming is utilizing cutting-edge technology to improve crop production and boost sustainability.
With the soaring demand for soy, many farmers have embraced various aspects of precision farming, like using satellite imagery to monitor their crops.
The primary benefit of precision farming is that it lets farmers nip potential problems with their soy crops in the bud. Pets and diseases can be managed before they wreak havoc on soy farms.
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Wrap Up
Sustainable soy production has much to do with adopting healthy farming practices. The above interventions can go a long way in boosting soy yields and helping avert a future shortage of this in-demand crop.